Quick Read
- Thomas Crooks attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024.
- Crooks killed one rally-goer, injured two others, and wounded Trump before being shot dead by Secret Service.
- He had a complex online history, including furry art accounts and shifting political rhetoric.
- Crooks’ body was cremated shortly after the incident, raising questions about investigation transparency.
- FBI Director Kash Patel reported Crooks acted alone, with no prior leaks of his intent.
Thomas Crooks: The Man Behind the Attempted Trump Assassination
On July 13, 2024, the tranquility of a summer rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was shattered when Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old with a troubled online history, opened fire on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. As the nation watched in horror, Crooks fired eight rounds from an AR-15-style rifle from a rooftop, wounding Trump and killing Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter. Two other attendees were seriously injured before Crooks was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper. The incident sent shockwaves across the country, sparking debates on security, mental health, and the underbelly of online radicalization.
A Digital Trail That Changed Narratives
In the aftermath, official statements painted Crooks as an “online ghost.” Yet, as New York Post and Fox News Radio uncovered, the reality was far more complex. Crooks maintained two accounts on DeviantArt, a major hub for furry art, under the usernames “epicmicrowave” and “theepicmicrowave.” His profiles, which used “they/them” pronouns, were linked to his primary email, contradicting early claims of digital invisibility.
Miranda Devine, columnist for the New York Post, described Crooks’ online persona as shifting from far-right rhetoric to mocking Trump and openly discussing political violence. His interests—ranging from political memes to furry subculture—were anything but ordinary. The FBI later confirmed Crooks’ “limited online and in-person interactions,” but admitted he’d planned and executed the attack alone, without sharing his intent with anyone. Still, the digital breadcrumbs left behind told a story of escalating volatility and isolation.
Controversial Cremation and Investigation Hurdles
Ten days after the assassination attempt, Crooks’ body was cremated. The timing was striking: his cremation coincided with the announcement of congressional investigations into the shooting. Representative Clay Higgins (R-La.) expressed outrage over the decision, noting that local law enforcement, the county coroner, and even the sheriff were unaware until weeks later. Higgins stated to Fox News that the FBI’s unilateral action “seriously dampened progress in investigations,” raising doubts about the integrity and transparency of the inquiry.
“We will actually never know,” Higgins lamented, “Yes, we’ll get the reports and pictures, etc., but I will not ever be able to say with certainty that those reports and pictures are accurate according to my own examination of the body.” The incident fueled suspicions and gave rise to a chorus of demands for accountability from federal agencies.
The FBI Under Fire: Questions of Competence and Transparency
Jonathan Gilliam, a former FBI Special Agent and Navy SEAL, voiced sharp criticism of his former agency in a Daily Mail interview. He accused federal officials of “bungling, blustering and confusing the public” over Crooks’ case, characterizing the investigation as chaotic and plagued by conflicting narratives. These criticisms gained traction after Tucker Carlson published a bombshell investigation, alleging that the FBI withheld critical details about Crooks’ background and motivations.
Despite public skepticism, FBI Director Kash Patel defended the Bureau’s efforts. In a recent post on X, Patel outlined the scope of the investigation: more than 480 FBI employees, over 1,000 interviews, 2,000 public tips, 13 seized devices, and data analysis from 25 social media accounts. Patel emphasized that Crooks had “limited online and in person interactions, planned and conducted the attack alone, and did not leak or share his intent to engage in the attack with anyone.” Still, the rapid cremation and lack of clear answers left many unsatisfied.
Online Obsessions and Radicalization: The Furry Connection
One of the more bizarre threads in the Crooks case was his involvement in furry culture—a subculture often misunderstood and sometimes unfairly associated with internet extremism. Crooks’ DeviantArt accounts were dedicated to furry art, echoing a pattern seen in other high-profile cases. The FBI reportedly found engravings on bullet casings with references to the furry subculture, adding another layer of intrigue to an already convoluted story.
Experts warn against drawing simple conclusions. While Crooks’ online activities showed a trajectory from far-right ideology to antagonism toward Trump, the intersection of furry culture and political extremism remains poorly understood. Congressman Mark Harris (R-NC) discussed the broader context, referencing recent immigration raids and their impact on local communities, but cautioned against scapegoating entire subcultures based on the actions of individuals.
Screen Addiction, Isolation, and the Roots of Violence
The Crooks case also reignited debates on screen addiction, social isolation, and youth mental health. Fox News Radio used Crooks as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of excessive screen time and the lure of online echo chambers. Programs like Reset Summer Camp have emerged to combat social anxiety, depression, and digital addiction among teens, reflecting a growing awareness of the psychological risks lurking behind screens.
Was Crooks a product of these forces? The evidence points to a young man who retreated into virtual worlds, whose worldview became increasingly warped by online communities and political polarization. Yet, as the investigation continues, the full picture remains elusive.
Lingering Questions: What Do We Really Know?
Despite hundreds of interviews and thousands of tips, the Crooks case leaves more questions than answers. Why did the FBI rush to cremate his body, and what motivated Crooks to carry out such a brazen act? Was he radicalized by fringe internet communities, or did deeper psychological issues drive his actions? The lack of clear evidence and the patchwork of online clues have left investigators—and the public—grappling with uncertainty.
In the end, the story of Thomas Crooks is a cautionary tale about the intersection of digital isolation, political extremism, and institutional opacity. The tragedy in Butler, Pennsylvania, will be remembered not only for its violence but for the unresolved questions and the uncomfortable truths it exposed about the state of American society in 2024.
The Crooks case illustrates the dangers of unchecked online radicalization and institutional missteps. While investigators uncovered a complex digital life, the rush to close the book on Crooks has left lingering doubts. Only by demanding transparency and understanding the roots of such violence can society hope to prevent future tragedies.